The Houston Texans are talented everywhere, but the troubles at quarterback will likely spell doom once again in 2015. There is no signal caller of the future on the roster, but the Texans should be able to draft someone to groom this season. Bill O'Brien might wait until the second round to draft his former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, but if the Texans choose to roll the dice in the first round Jared Goff looks like the best pick. It is no secret that Cal's offense inflates passing numbers, but Goff has great size and a cannon arm. He should put up huge numbers as a junior. The question will be if Goff can transition from the spread to an NFL defense. Houston should have rolled the dice on Teddy Bridgewater two years ago. Passing on Joey Bosa will be tough, but Houston will never be successful until they get a real quarterback.

Chicago could take a quarterback here, but I do not think John Fox will want to spend what might be his last head coach opportunity on grooming a rookie. The Bears defense has given up 80 points in two games. Needless to say that side of the ball is a complete mess. Best defender should be the way to go. Joey Bosa
definitely qualifies as "best player available". In two years at
Columbus, all Bosa has done is rack up 21 sacks and 34.5 tackles for
loss. If eligible for the 2015 draft, there is a great chance that Bosa
would have been the Jaguars selection at #3 overall. Bosa is drawing JJ
Watt comparisons due to his size and rare playmaking ability from the
defensive line. If Dante Fowler can come back from his injury, the Jaguars defensive ends could be the envy of the AFC.

Ronnie Stanley is technically sound and
experienced, Laramy Tunsil is an athletic freak with injury and eligibility concerns. It
will be interesting to see what left tackle distinguishes themselves,
but both look like solid top ten picks. Stanley could have gone in the
top half of the first round, but chose to return to South Bend to hone
his game. Stanley only allowed one sack last year and has the look of a
franchise bookend. Luke Joeckel continues to look overmatched on the left side. Jacksonville needs to shore up it's offensive line.

The Buccaneers could go with either Rebel Robert Nkemdiche or Laremy Tunsil. It's a coin flip, but I went with Nkemdiche here. While his stats may not pop out at you, he has gotten the JaDeveon Clowney treatment with constant double teams and schemes to run away from him. Nkemdiche is the former top recruit in the country who has the skills to be a Suh-like pass rushing interior presence. The Buccaneers do not have much on the defensive line other than Gerald McCoy.

It has been a disastrous start on both sides of the ball for the Eagles. They probably won't end up this high, but after two weeks, they look like a bottom five team. Byron Maxwell has already been exposed without Seattle's system backing him up, and the rest of the cornerbacks are replacement level players. Vernon Hargreaves might be the most talented defensive back in football. What he lacks in size he makes up for in recognition and technique. He already has two interceptions on the season and looks destined to be a top ten pick.

The Titans need big time help on both sides of the ball. Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are not long term fixtures at this point in their careers. The Oklahoma State Cowboys are an average team, but Emmanuel Ogbah is having a fantastic career. He was one of the best sack artists in college football in 2014, and has picked up where he left off with 3.5 sacks after three games. He is strong and versatile, and could be an Aldon Smith-like pass rusher for the Titans.

Teams are always on the lookout for franchise tackles, and the Raiders are no exception. Laremy Tunsil was a former top recruit who has lived up to the billing during his time at Ole' Miss. His biggest question mark is health, after suffering a broken leg during the Rebels bowl game. He is also currently being held out of the Rebels starting lineup with some off the field eligibility issues. If Tunsil can come back relatively soon, he should be a very high draft pick. Scouts love his aggressiveness and nasty streak, and would be a fan favorite in the Black Hole.

I picked the Lions to finish under .500 because I did not believe in their running game or defense. The D has looked awful this season, after being one of the best units in football last year. Free agent losses have hurt this roster. Going into the 2014 season Ronald Darby and PJ Williams were thought of as potential first round picks, but the sophomore Ramsey quickly rose to the top of the heap. He is a big time play maker who has Pro Bowl potential at either safety or cornerback, two monster needs on the Detroit depth chart.

I am not in love with Connor Cook as a prospect. I think he will be more of a game manager than a true threat, but he has the size and skills to be a productive pocket passer for a team looking for the anti-Johnny Manziel. Cook needs to improve his footwork and accuracy, but has a strong arm and solid frame to withstand the cold Cleveland winters. Try try again for a long term answer at quarterback, Browns.

It was an off season to remember (for the wrong reasons) in San Francisco, and now the 49ers really have to replenish some serious talent an both sides of the field. Aldon Smith probably had to go, but cutting him killed the pas rush. Leonard Floyd was perhaps the best Georgia defender as a redshirt sophomore, and he is off to a great start as a junior in 2015. He is tall and a bit lanky, but a good pass rusher who can drop back into coverage as well. The talent is there to be a top 15 pick if he can become more consistent. Floyd might not be a 15 sack a year guy, but has a strong overall game.

There are about 74 Fuller brothers playing in the NFL, but Kendall might be the most talented. The Junior has great size and solid experience. He shut down Michael Thomas for the most part in Tech's Monday night loss to the Buckeyes, and looks to have a solid NFL future. The Saints cornerback situation is a barren wasteland, and the talent level desperately needs to be upgraded.

Trading so many picks for Robert Griffin III has left the Redskins short on young talent. The defensive line, especially, with Washington having to rely on castoffs like Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois. DeForest Buckner is a mountain of a man who has rare ability for a 3-4 end. He is a tackling machine and can get to the quarterback as well. His athleticism is not off the charts, but he has playmaking potential.

The Vikings have a nice set of skill players, but the offensive line is a complete mess. Taylor Decker stands a tall 6'8 and brings a load of experience into his senior season for the Buckeyes. He did a great job of handling the various talented Virginia Tech pass rushers, and will hope to keep Cardale Jones upright throughout the season to guarantee a ticket into the first round of the 2016 draft. Offensive lineman often rise during the draft process.

Despite spending a couple of first round picks on the offensive line, that unit is still a mess for the Giants. The Aggies have had three first round tackles the past three years and will hope to extend that streak to four. Germaine Ifedi takes over the left side for the departed Cedric Ogbuehi. He is a versatile lineman who could fit at right guard or tackle for New York.

Now that Cardale Jones has beat out JT Barrett for the Buckeyes starting quarterback spot, he has a great chance to be the top overall pick and first quarterback selected. He is built like Cam Newton and has an absolute cannon
for an arm. There are obvious concerns about his experience, as he only
has a handful of games under his belt, but there is no denying the
talent is there for him to be special. The Cleveland native has the strength and size to hold up in the cold Cleveland weather, and Browns fans will hope he can finally be the answer behind center.

An obvious need would be quarterback, but as long as Jay Gruden is around (which may not be long), I think Kirk Cousins is the guy.. Most likely they go best defender available here. Going
into the 2014 season Ronald Darby and PJ Williams were thought of as
potential first round picks, but the sophomore Ramsey quickly rose to
the top of the heap. He is a big time play maker who has Pro Bowl
potential at either safety or cornerback, two monster needs on the Washington depth chart.

Teams
are always on the lookout for franchise tackles, and the Raiders are
no
exception. Laremy Tunsil was a
former top recruit who has lived up to the billing during his time at
Ole' Miss. His biggest question mark is health, after suffering a broken
leg during the Rebels bowl game. He is also currently being held out of
the Rebels starting lineup with some off the field eligibility issues.
If Tunsil can come back relatively soon, he should be a very high draft
pick. Scouts love his aggressiveness and
nasty streak, and would be a fan favorite in the Black Hole.

Taylor Lewan may be a reach here, but the Panthers have the worst offensive line group in the NFL. They need to develop several lineman, especially at tackle. Lewan stands a tall 6'8 and brings a load of experience into his senior season for the Buckeyes. He did a great job of handling the various talented Virginia Tech pass rushers, and will hope to keep Cardale Jones upright throughout the season to guarantee a ticket into the first round of the 2016 draft. Offensive lineman often rise during the draft process.

It was an off season to remember (for the wrong
reasons) in San Francisco, and now the 49ers really have to replenish
some serious talent an both sides of the field. The Niners have spent
plenty of early picks on the secondary, but the cornerback situation is
troubling. Vernon
Hargreaves might be the most talented defensive back in football. What
he lacks in size he makes up for in recognition and technique. He already has one interception on the season and looks destined to be a top ten pick.

The once vaunted Chicago Bears defense has been ravaged by age and free agent defections. Chicago needs to spend plenty of picks on the best defensive players available. The Oklahoma State Cowboys are not a very good team, but Emmanuel Ogbah is having a fantastic career. He was one of the best sack artists in college football in 2014, and has picked up where he left off with 2.5 sacks after two games. He is strong and versatile, and could be an Aldon Smith-like pass rusher for the Bears.

I like the Falcons defensive potential with new head coach Dan Quinn, who is a very creative defensive mind. But a little more talent could not hurt. The linebacker group is full of journeymen. Jaylon Smith is a do-it-all linebacker for the Fighting Irish, and I love his potential as a future NFL middle linebacker. He has drawn comparisons to Patrick Willis and could be the leader of a scheme versatile Falcons defense.

The Rams have had a ton of high draft picks, and perhaps the most talented front seven in football, but it still has not translated to wins. It seems that the game has passed Jeff Fisher by. Regardless, he will try to ground and pound, and that will not work without a good offensive line. Jack Conklin brings over 2 years of starting experience at tackle protecting Connor Cook. He is very technically sound, but might kick inside in the NFL. As we have seen with guys like DJ Fluker and Brandon Scherff, guys are still being drafted high despite converting to guard at the next level.

There are about 74
Fuller brothers playing in the NFL, but Kendall might be the most
talented. The Junior has great size and solid experience. He shut down
Michael Thomas for the most part in Tech's Monday night loss to the
Buckeyes, and looks to have a solid NFL future. The Lions do not have much opposite Darius Slay, and Fuller should be able to step in right away and provide solid coverage.

I
am not in love with Connor Cook as a prospect. I think he will be more
of a game manager than a true threat, but he has the size and skills to
be a productive pocket passer in a scheme like Chan Gailey's. Cook needs
to improve his footwork and accuracy, but has a strong arm and solid
frame to withstand the cold New York winters. It is no secret that the Jets need to find a long term answer at the position.

Leonard Floyd was perhaps the best Georgia defender as a redshirt sophomore, and he is off to a great start as a junior in 2015. He is tall and a bit lanky, but a good pass rusher who can drop back into coverage as well. The talent is there to be a top 15 pick if he can become more consistent. The Chargers have spent plenty of early picks on pass rushers, but have lacked a difference maker since Shawn Merriman's prime. Floyd might not be a 15 sack a year guy, but has a strong overall game.

Like I said earlier, interior lineman are being drafted higher than ever. Max Tuerk has a few years of experience blocking for a couple of NFL quarterbacks and running backs. He is tall and lanky, but a solid technician. The Vikings have all sorts of problems along the offensive line, and Tuerk could fill in at center or guard.

The Bengals were terrible against the run, and the personell has not improved much this season. A'Shawn Robinson had 5 sacks as a freshman before transitioning into more of a run stopper as a sophomore. Robinson is very strong, and has the speed to track down ball carriers. He might not ever get to the quarterback with regularity, but should really help the Bengals porous run defense.

The Dolphins have a very talented front seven, but other than Rashad Jones and Brent Grimes, the secondary lacks talent. Tre'Davious White might have been LSU's best defensive back as a sophomore. Though he lacks size, he is a dynamo in press defense, and has the speed to stay step to step with receivers deep.

2 comments:

The Lions needs a heck of a lot more that a single CB/S to fix that mess of a team:

1) DT Ngata and Walker have been jokes on the middle.2) OL Pick a position. Even Warford has regressed.3) LB Tulloch is through after his ACL.4) QB Stafford is done in Detroit.5) DB Only after the above is addressed.